Purpose of this Directive

These requirements also apply to pipeline installations that convey gas (e.g., compressor stations, line heaters) licensed by the AER in accordance with the Pipeline Act. With the exception of oil sands mining schemes and operations, Directive 060 applies to all schemes and operations approved under section 10 of the Oil Sands ConservationAct.

These requirements ensure that public safety concerns and environmental impacts are addressed before beginning to flare, incinerate, or vent. Requirements in this directive are aligned to ensure compliance with Alberta Ambient Air Quality Objectives and Guidelines.

The table below summarizes the vent gas limits and fugitive emissions management requirements in Directive 060, section 8, and is provided for information only. Companies must adhere to the requirements as set out in Directive 060.

Under the overall vent gas limit, which includes all routine and nonroutine vent gas, are source-specific vent gas limits that must be followed while remaining in compliance with the overall vent gas limit. Defined vent gas is vent gas emitted from routine venting, excluding vent gas from pneumatic devices, compressor seals, and glycol dehydrators.

Summary of vent gas limits and fugitive emission survey requirements; “existing” means before January 1, 2022; “new” means on or after January 1, 2022

Prevent or control vent gas from at least 90 per cent of the instruments installed in a calendar year
Venting instruments:

Level controllers: Use a relay that has been designed to reduce or minimize transient or dynamic venting, or adjust the actuation frequency to ensure that the time between actuations is greater than 15 minutes

Pneumatic instruments other than level controllers: Manufacturer-specified steady-state vent gas rate of less than 0.17 m3/hr

Prevent or control vent gas from pneumatic pumps operating more than 750 hours/year

Vent gas limits for existing pneumatic devices
(January 1, 2023)

Level controllers: Prevent or control vent gas, use a relay that has been designed to reduce or minimize transient or dynamic venting, or adjust the actuation frequency to ensure that the time between actuations is greater than 15 minutes
Pneumatic instruments other than level controllers: Prevent or control vent gas or ensure instruments have a manufacturer-specified steady-state vent gas rate of less than 0.17 m3/hr

Directive 060 requires the use of AERflare-incin to model SO2dispersion from flares and incinerators. Several programming bugs were fixed in the previously released version based on comments that were received. The dispersion model predictions for flares remain the same, but the predictions for incinerators increase slightly. For complete details on what’s changed, see the What’s New document in the zip file. All submissions must use the new versions within one month of the version date.

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